Malawi Police arrest suspect in VP Chilima’s fake resignation letter:  PP’s Stellla Asani in, Ackson Kalaile wanted

Malawi police are keeping in custody a woman suspected to be part of a group that forged a resignation letter purportedly written by the country’s Vice President, Saulos Chilima.

The woman has been identified as Stella Asani of Galiva, Blantyre and is an operative of erstwhile ruling Peoples Party (PP).

National Police spokesperson, James Kadadzera was elusive when asked about the arrest but could not deny issue.

“Am yet to be briefed by our investigators on the ground, therefore I cannot ascertain whether this woman has been arrested in connection to the Vice-President’s fake resignation letter or not,” said Kadadzera.

However, one of senior police officers, who also confirmed Asani’s arrest, disclosed that the law-enforcers are currently hunting for another suspect, Ackson Kalaile Banda who is reported to have left the country through Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) on Monday morning.

Kalaile Banda is also PP operative and has been critical of government on the social media, accusing it of trying to suppress his freedom.

“Currently we are withholding the information to avoid jeopardizing our investigations, but Asani is being held in Lilongwe for further questioning,” the officer told Nyasa Times.

The officer disclosed that during Asani’s arrest at her residence in Galiva, Blantyre on Friday night, the law-enforcers confiscated laptops, desktop computers, and internet gadgets among other ICT materials.

“By set of things, her house seemed to be a hub of their operations. But it’s too early to speculate and start releasing information. We are handling the issue with strictness to avoid jeopardizing the investigations,” added the officer.

During the Easter holidays, the social media was awash with what was later discovered to be a fake resignation letter by Chilima.

The State House and Chilima’s office dismissed the letter as not authentic, government warned it will hunt down those behind the act.

In the letter with a State seal and dated April 15, 2017, Chilima is claimed to be dismayed over President Peter Mutharika led government’s failure to meet the developmental agenda that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) promised during campaign.

The letter further claims that Chilima is unhappy over a media blackout from the State broadcaster Malawi Broadcasting Station (MBC).

“Within the next 12 months I will resign and withdraw my services while transitioning to my successor,” reads part of the letter that has been disowned by Chilima through his press aide Pilirani Phiri.

State House press office dismissed the letter and urged the public to treat it as bogus.

It was observed that those who wrote the letter used a fake type of paper than that the Veep usually uses in corresponding with the President and that the signature was not that of Chilima.